Here’s the story:
You have or had acne. You wanted to get rid of it. So you got onto Google, or even went to the library if you’re old school, and you started to learn everything you could about it.
Every mention of acne; you absorbed it up. You spent hours researching finding out everything possible that could be lapped up into your brain.
And perhaps in this search, you find more than enough answers.
And maybe you start putting them into action.
But then, the research and subsequent experimentation doesn’t quit. It still happens on a daily basis for maybe even hours per day. You just want more, more, more.
In huge part this is fuelled by anxiety, and feeling like there might be a better answer just around the corner.
But sometimes it’s a big part because you’re simply filling up time. You’re not really sure what else to do with yourself. And researching acne – or health in relation to acne – has become like a habit, and you do kind of enjoy it… it’s exciting in a way.
Suddenly, before you know it, acne has become your hobby.
Acne Is A Sucky Hobby
Well, let me tell you why I think acne is a sucky hobby. And I know this from experience. I’ve always been someone who is a little bit research obsessive… any time I’m interested in anything, I will go head on and learn everything I possibly can about it, spending hours a day.
So when I came down with the severe acne, it naturally became my hobby very quickly – fuelled very much by my usual pattern of researching something to death, plus the intense anxiety.
I’m not saying researching and learning about a topic of interest as a hobby is a bad thing in any way. But in this case, it can be. Let me tell you why:
It Makes You An Even Shakier Mess of Anxiety
So, you know… say you’ve done some research to get rid of your acne. That’s cool. You’ve found someone you like to learn from (me, maybe?), and you like their acne protocol, and you want to try it.
Obviously you won’t know for sure if it’s going to work until you give it a shot and stay committed to it for a while… but.. okay. You’ve decided you want to try it. And you start putting it into action.
But then, well, you’re really impatient like the rest of us, so you can’t help it and you keep reading more, getting more opinions, reading everything you possibly can to see if there is something bigger, better, more effective to try.
Nothing wrong with second opinions, but seriously – it never ends. You may have noticed that the internet is an extremely contradictory place. And there’s about a thousand bajillion different things – diets, supplements, products – that you could try for your acne that has worked for someone out there in internet land.
In the end, all it does is make you super paranoid and anxious. Because you start second guessing everything you’re doing. You get totally overwhelmed when it comes to choices like what to wash your face with; what kind of food to eat. You feel like you’re missing out and will never clear your acne, because there’s just no way you can try everything out there.
In the end, you might have to correct course with your acne treatment and add or subtract things, or even completely switch it up.
But you know… you have to actually wait and see if it’s going to work or not, and if not, then see if you need to adjust something. The “waiting and seeing” part takes patience, and often you need other things to distract you while you wait it out so you don’t go crazy.
By obsessively researching acne in the mean time, it just makes you second guess everything, and makes you extremely impatient. You’re less likely to stick with something the required amount of time to see if it works, because you really aren’t sure if you’re on the right path at all.
It also causes you to hinge your entire happiness on the ups and downs that you will have to go through to get to the end. Sometimes when you’re healing, it’s lots of “two steps forward, one step back”. If acne is your hobby, those steps back can be devastating because you have nothing else to think about.
You Can Never Get Your Mind Off Your Acne
When acne is your hobby… well, you just are never going to be able to stop thinking about it. Let’s face it, acne as a hobby is something that just happens, not something that you one day thought “Hmm. Acne looks like an interesting passion. I’m think I might give that a try some time”.
No one wants to have acne, so why would you ever want to have acne has a hobby?
Yet, here we are voluntarily using our leisure time to focus all our attention on something we hate.
I mean, if you have acne it’s probably going to be on our mind a lot of the time anyway, but there’s nothing more helpful to your stress levels than doing things you enjoy that don’t have anything to do with acne. Things that allow you to escape thinking about it for a while. Remember – stress is only going to make acne worse, and what is more stressful than acne?!
Plus, all that time spent researching about acne and getting yourself more and more confused, could be better spent doing things that you know are going to have a positive impact on your skin in the real world – like making yourself a nice, healthy meal, or taking your dog for a walk.
Find Other Things to Do That Bring You Joy
If this article is resonating with you, go make a list of some leisure activities that you might really enjoy – or that you already know you enjoy – and keep that list with you. Writing it on your phone might be a good idea.
When you feel the urge to research acne just for the sake of it (even though you darn well know that your cup is more than full with acne information), take a deep breath and resist the urge – then choose something from your list and do that instead. Do this enough and I promise you’ll be happier with your skin and your life.
Is acne your hobby?
I relate to this very well. Even though it’s already quite clear to me what I should and shouldn’t do… every now and then I will continue searching, don’t even know why. It’s all about trial and error; it took me 7-8 years to figure things out. I have PCOS. My skin is not too bad right now, I’ve had much worse. I’m doing the best I can, and I have to accept that maybe I’ll never be completely clear, and I can’t live my life thinking about acne every single day (getting tired of it, really).
Your site has been really helpful, and you inspired me to go off birth control pills, thanks for that! I’m now exercising more and going for a sugar/dairy/gluten free diet. Also, I’m taking vitamin D, inositol, and fish oil. Good combination for girls with pcos;)
Hi Isabel! Yeah, it’s a tough balance to clear your skin without getting obsessive and over-researching. It gets exhausting. Glad to hear you’ve got it at least partially figured out, and thanks for letting me know what’s working for you. It’s always helpful to hear that feedback.
this is me. i am going to take this advice seriously. thanks so much
You’re welcome 🙂 Glad you found it helpful.
So true Tracy! If I wasn’t so busy, I would still be a research fanatic and acne detective. Thankfully I’ve found what generally works for me but for the last little while I’ve been researching about skin and pregnancy and what you can use and not use in terms of cosmetics as well as what supplements I can continue to take. Talk about contradictory info! Well let’s just say I am still working on not being anxious or worried about my skin if I get preggers 😉
One thing to note is that if you believe in the law of attraction – where you’re attention goes, energy flows so if you stop obsessing about your acne and try to appreciate more when you have great skin and try to feel good even when it isn’t so great, you will be well on your way to clear skin!
Hi Mel!
Yep, I know what you mean… it gets to a point where you just have to stop otherwise you’ll go nuts. Sometimes you just have to let yourself wait and see what happens. I agree with you that what you think about and put energy into is what you attract
Hi Mel!
Have you ever been pregnant before? I have my clearest skin while pregnant and breast feeding without really doing anything. Lol, I tend to forget about the breakouts until my cycle returns and my acne 🙁 hopefully you will experience the same thing while pregnant 🙂 I am working on clearing my skin naturally now through my diet and supplements as well since no more babies are in my future. Good luck to you!
Hi Tracy,
This is so me:) I can relate to this 100%. And spookily enough, just a few days ago I had one of those days, when after researching acne cures online, it had left me with an overwhelming, panicky feeling of “what if i’m fighting a loosing battle?” There is so much information out there, which I really like, but for every good, insightful advice there is a post that completely contradicts what you have just read, or it scares you with some health warnings. I was lucky enough to have someone I can talk to, and he made me realize that I might be a little obsessive when it comes to my acne-fight research. And today, I got your email with the post about acne as a hobby. Makes you think, definitely.
Thank you, Tracy
Hi Izabela, oh yes I’ve been there 🙂 I know from experience that stepping back a little and chilling on the research can make a huge difference to your happiness and sanity!
omg!!! This was so perfect. The time I’ve spent researching acne would completely astound people..but if you suffer with acne you’ve totally been there. Lately I’m taking a whole new approach to curing it through my diet. I don’t want to say how it’s going for fear of jinxing myself..:)
Anyways.. I go from one approach to the next before I can even tell if anythings working. I have my new approach so I’m getting off the internet and doing something I love.
Thank you for this article/video
Love,
Sarah <3
Oh yes, I’ve been there! Good luck with focusing your attention elsewhere for a while 🙂
haha this is funny because at the moment i was researching acne. i’ve been lucky enough to clear all my acne,EXCEPT the acne on my chin. i have no idea how to fix it. it stopped for 2months with the omega3, but i think i took too much and that brought it back. i also heard chin acne could require hormonal balancers or a stomach cleansing. but i dont know and i’m tired of it. guess i should give myself a break and stop this crazy research:P
Haha yes I suppose my advice here is contradictory since I run an acne advice blog, but you now what I mean 😉 … anyway – it’s up to you if you want to continue the research, but yes usually chin acne is a hormonal imbalance. My ebook about female hormonal acne (https://thelovevitamin.com/female-hormonal-acne-guide/) specifically addresses this type of stubborn acne.. I used to have the same problematic chin acne that wouldn’t go away no matter what, but I did manage to get rid of it!
Hii! I have really bad acne. Under my skin, so I can’t pop the blisters. It gets really red and sore. About a week and a half ago, I saw a dermatologist and started Roaccutane (Accutane, depending on where you’re from) but. I’m going to Paris with school in a phew months. I do use moisturiser. But I was wondering if you have anything that could help it along? I’ll give almost anything a try! (I’m 14 and female)
Hi Sophie, eating well, sleeping, keeping stress as low as possible, and getting a bit of exercise will all help it along! 🙂 For skin care, my favourite recommendations are using manuka honey, and jojoba oil, but there are lots of other options available!
https://thelovevitamin.com/1248/why-is-manuka-honey-so-special-for-acne-and-acne-scars/
https://thelovevitamin.com/3028/choose-good-jojoba-oil-acne/
https://thelovevitamin.com/3477/14-natural-face-cleansing-alternatives/
Thanks for another great article – really insightful
Thanks April 🙂
Hah, this was so perfect for me. I’ve noticed that I tend to get obsessive and really really anxious about things if I am stressed about something else in my life (money, work, etc). Usually, I’ve noticed that when I think about my skin less, I also end up doing fewer things to it – touching, obsessing over it, trying new miracle products, supplements etc. And the silly thing is that most people probably have one or two minor zits at a time, but it just doesn’t take over their lives! Of course, being stressed about acne potentially makes it worse too. Thanks for the post, I’m now inspired to go off, take a nap and go for a long walk later.
Thanks for reading Rachel 🙂 Enjoy your time off from acne research!
Hi Tracy! I found your website while researching acne treatment. I just finished my first bottle of Estroblock and the difference is remarkable! I have been taking Vitex as well, and I am now going to add a liver support supplement. Thank you soooooo much for posting this information on the internet!! I have been struggling with acne for about 10 years, and I can finally see clear skin! It saves me so much time and frustration in the mornings. I no longer feel like I have to cake on foundation to be presentable. I had a baby about 6 months ago. My face cleared while I was pregnant, but then the acne came back worse then ever! Your self esteem already takes a hit after having a baby (you feel awesome too, but just not pretty), and you don’t have the time to spend trying to cover up with makeup. Thank you again for posting the info that made it possible for me to feel the freedom to forgo all the face paste! You are wonderful! 🙂
Hey Autumn,
That’s awesome, I’m so happy for you! There’s nothing better than being confident enough to let go of the makeup! And congrats on the new baby!
Makeup free is liberating for sure! Must be pretty cool to show off that new mom glow! Congrats!
Hey Tracy,
Do you think i can achieve healthier skin without having to take supplement and vitamins but instead maintain a healthier diet and not replace foods with substitutes? Also, would any organic jojoba oil work?
Hi Hanna,
Absolutely, I most recommend getting your nutrients from food first. I’m not really that into vitamin and nutrient replacements, Although I have nothing against food based supplements for extra nutrition if you want to use them like cod liver oil or desiccated liver pills and stuff like that, since they are highly nutritious whole food supplements and most people won’t find enough of those nutrients in a regular diet.
If you can’t seem to get completely clear from these changes alone, that’s when I recommend trying specific supplements like Estroblock or liver support herbs, or whatever your body needs.